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Here's how countries are eyeing an electric car future

India wants electric cars to represent 30 percent of sales by 2030. The United States is not banning all fossil fuel cars just yet

FILE PHOTO: Tesla Model X electric cars recharge their batteries in Berlin, Germany, November 13, 2019. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Tesla Model X electric cars recharge their batteries in Berlin, Germany, November 13, 2019. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch/File Photo (REUTERS)

The United States has joined a raft of other nations that have set timelines to phase out fossil fuel cars in favour of an electric future as the world seeks to curb the effects of climate change, an AFP report explains. Here are some of the plans that are in the works in other countries:

2025 for forerunner Norway

Norway wants all new cars to be zero-emissions vehicles by 2025.

The Nordic country, which is ironically the largest producer of oil in Western Europe, aims to have all new cars as "zero emissions" -- meaning electric or hydrogen powered -- by 2025.

Also read: Honda plans to build its own electric vehicles soon

UK, Singapore and Israel eye 2030

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson last year announced a 10-point plan for "a green industrial revolution" to tackle climate change, which included banning petrol and diesel new vehicle sales by 2030.

Singapore and Israel have set a similar deadline.

US half-way there in 2030

Unlike other countries, the United States is not banning all fossil fuel cars just yet.

Earlier this week, President Joe Biden announced a target for half of all cars sold in the United States to be zero-emission vehicles by 2030. His plan includes both fully electric cars and plug-in hybrids, which still have combustion engines.

California has set its own target to get fossil fuel cars off the road, with a rule mandating that all in-state sales of new passenger cars and trucks be zero emissions by 2035.

Canada has set a 2040 target.

Two electric vehicles are parked on the South Lawn of the White House before President Joe Biden speaks Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021, at an event on clean cars and trucks. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Two electric vehicles are parked on the South Lawn of the White House before President Joe Biden speaks Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021, at an event on clean cars and trucks. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) (AP)

EU targets 2035

The European Commission wants to end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2035, under a massive plan to fight climate change unveiled in July. The ban would include hybrids.

Within the European Union, Ireland, the Netherlands and Sweden have set a more ambitious target of 2030.

European automakers have expanded their offerings of electric and hybrid cars, and sales have soared in Europe, overtaking the Chinese market last year. But fully electric cars represented just 7.5 percent of sales.

Vague targets in China, Japan

China, the world's top polluter and biggest car market, has not set a date but domestic automakers have invested heavily in electric cars, thanks to generous subsidies.

The government announced in 2017 plans to gradually phase out fossil fuel cars, without setting a date to get them off the road.

Beijing is aiming for 25 percent of new car sales to be new energy vehicles -- which includes electric and hybrid vehicles -- by 2025. They should dominate the market by 2035, according to a 2020 government document.

Japan's government wants to ban sales of fossil fuel cars by the middle of 2030. Electric and hybrid vehicles will be the only new sales allowed in the market.

Developing nations

Some emerging countries have set targets, though new car sales are low and electric vehicles are expensive in those markets.

India wants electric cars to represent 30 percent of sales by 2030. Last month, according to a survey by consultancy firm EY, 90 per cent of consumers in India are willing to pay a premium for buying an electric vehicle. According to the survey, the top reason for buying an EV among the consumers is environmental concern, with 97 per cent of the respondents also stating that the COVID-19 pandemic has heightened awareness and concerns about environmental issues.

Cape Verde wants clean cars to account for 100 percent of the market in 2035 while Costa Rica has set a 2050 date.

Also read: Naveen Munjal: The electric effect

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